NES1000 : Crop Health
NES1000 : Crop Health
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Dave George
- Lecturer: Professor Giles Budge, Dr Ankush Prashar
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
'Crop Health' provides students with an introduction to the biotic and biotic stresses that can impact crop performance, exploring how these can be mitigated and managed in modern agricultural systems. The module introduces students to aspects of crop nutrition and water use, and covers the significance, biology, and diversity of crop pests/diseases/weeds. Through lectures and a visit to Newcastle University Farms, the module explores how these biotic and abiotic stressors can cause damage, and examines the principles of their monitoring and control using both traditional and novel approaches.
Outline Of Syllabus
Crop nutrition and abiotic crop stress
Crop pests
Crop diseases & viruses
Crop weeds (farm visit)
Choosing and using Plant Protection Products
Biopesticides and biostimulants
Precision weed management
The benefits of biodiversity
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
Following successful completion of this module a student will be able to:
1) Appreciate how abiotic stresses and pests, weeds and diseases affect crop plants
2) Understand and evaluate the range of options available for monitoring and management of abiotic stresses and crop pests/weeds/diseases
3) Understand the potential impact of biotic and abiotic stressors on crop production systems, both in general and in relation to specific examples
Intended Skill Outcomes
Following successful completion of this module a student will be able to:
1) Develop their written communication and report writing skills through the continuous assessment programme
2) Identify the major insect, weed and disease pests associated with the production of temperate crops, and appreciate the major abiotic stressors of relevance to crop plants (e.g. nutrients and water)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 3:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Revision for final exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 2 | 3:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Field Trip to NU-Farms |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 54:00 | 54:00 | Compilation of notes and engaging with Canvas materials for further learning outside the lecture content |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures and field trips will provide an understanding of the range of crop abiotic stressors and pests/weeds/diseases of importance to agricultural crops and how these can be monitored and managed. Practical aspects of the field trip will enhance the ability of students to recognise major-weed species and place the wider module teaching in a real-world context.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 2 | A | 100 | N/A |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Students will be presented with problem solving exercises as part of the module teaching - for example to define an IPM strategy |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The exam assesses knowledge and understanding of material relating to each section of the module, and will require students to select questions from each of three sections, these being:
Plant health and its management
Weeds and their management
Pests and diseases and their management
The formative assessment allows students to embed skills and knowledge through problem solving.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES1000's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- NES1000's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
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Disclaimer
The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2025 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, staffing changes, and student feedback. Module information for the 2026/27 entry will be published here in early-April 2026. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.